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The tourism industry is bracing for several years of chaos on the back of the global coronavirus crisis, which has already seen economies lose billions.

Social distancing for the foreseeable future means beaches, popular sights and hotels will be operating at a reduced capacity, allowing less visitors in - if any at all.

Several countries have also warned of how resorts will implement two metre guidelines - particularly in and around public spaces.

Italian ministers have warned that holidays will never be the same again - with queues outside its once busy attractions, such as the Colosseum, set to be tightened in line with social distancing guidelines.

The country said it's been one of the worst hit by the pandemic, with 27,967 lives claimed to date and billions wiped off its economy.

Spain, meanwhile, is still in talks to reopen its borders, but it's not yet known when or if tourists will be allowed back.

Airlines have also thrown the industry into chaos, with Ryanair and British Airways both axing jobs while Aer Lingus are due hold discussions with unions about potential job cuts.

It raises important questions about how travel will get back on its feet once borders are relaxed across Europe.

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Earlier this week, Irish travel expert Eoghan Corry said he believed that the Canary Islands could be the first popular holiday destination to reopen, with Fuerteventura and Lanzarote likely to welcome tourists first and Gran Canaria and Tenerife at a later date.

The journalist and broadcaster said because of their low rate of infections compared to the rest of Spain, the Canaries may be the first place to allow tourists back in late summer or early autumn.

He said: "Our best hope is one of our favourite holiday destinations, the Canaries, they've a low infection rate compared to the rest of Spain.

"What will happen from May 11, all going to plan, the Canaries will start unlocking and the first two up would be Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

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Greece

Greece's tourism minister Harry Theoharis has spoken about "specific new rules" for tourism during the coronavirus crisis.

Theoharis, who is set to hold talks with his EU counterparts tomorrow, said: "If we are to think of the possibility of travelling this year it has to be under specific new rules.

"We have to have new rules for hotels, new rules for beaches, new rules for pools, new rules for breakfast buffets, new rules for tour buses."

The regulations could include temperature checks and blood tests as passengers land in the country.

In the same interview, Theoharis said he was looking to establish a common set of rules for EU states that would allow people to move between countries and at the same time make "economic sense".

He said: "If, for example, you can only fly with 10 people on a plane to be deemed safe then obviously there will be no flight."

The Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation estimates that the country's tourism industry will make just 30% of what it made in 2019 due to the pandemic, and there are fears for the knock-on effect on the economy.

But if the warm weather brings a reprieve, it says Greece could open to holidaymakers in July.

While this sounds like good news, it may only be available to those from eastern and central Europe if air links continue to be suspended.

He said: "Once measures are relaxed a good month will be required to prepare the ground for the [tourism] engine to get started.

"Tour operators are waiting and hoping we can come up with the right rules so that we can start bringing visitors in. We have to strike the right balance … be cautious, tough it out and make the best of it.”

Greece is expected to lose billions of euros in tourism as the mainland and islands close their borders to visitors, with 65% of hotels facing bankruptcy.

Coronavirus health advice

The certification system will include three pillars covering transportation, facilities and passengers who use the previous two pillars.

He explained an immunity certificate would also be required of international visitors.

"This will probably be an example to the world that we have developed. By gradually including all NGOs in the commission, we aim to finalise this certification system quickly in the first week of May," Ersoy said.